Why Caribbean Unity Is Our Only Real Defense in a World of Giants
An anthropological look at our island divisions, our shared vulnerability, and the urgent need to grow up as one region
We Are Too Small to Be This Divided
As I move through life as a Caribbean man, one truth keeps hitting me in the face:
We are far too small, and far too vulnerable, to be this divided.
I have seen projects with real potential for our people get sabotaged for reasons that have nothing to do with reality:
- “I don’t like that person on the board.”
- “He’s from the wrong political party.”
- “She offended me ten years ago.”
Meanwhile, the world is not waiting for us to mature.
Massive commercial and geopolitical powers are quietly buying ports, infrastructure, and influence across the region. They come as “developers”, “lenders”, and “partners” – but they leave with:
- our land,
- our critical assets,
- and our children’s future bargaining power.
The old blog I wrote years ago about unity came from frustration. This one comes from a deeper place: anthropology – the study of how people survive or disappear – and a hard-earned understanding:
If the Caribbean does not learn to act as a conscious, united family, we will be managed, divided and owned by others. Not because they are “evil,” but because we are unorganized.
Section 1: What Unity Really Means
Unity Is Not a Song – It’s a Survival Strategy
In the Caribbean, we love to sing about unity. We preach it at independence celebrations, quote it at conferences, and put it on posters for regional meetings.
But unity is not:
- a slogan,
- a hashtag,
- or a line in a speech.
From an anthropological perspective, unity is a survival strategy. Human groups that:
- coordinate,
- share information,
- pool resources,
- and resolve internal conflicts intelligently
are more likely to:
- resist external domination,
- protect their land and institutions,
- and negotiate as equals.
Those who stay trapped in:
- personal grudges,
- tribal party politics,
- and petty status games
become easy prey.
Section 2: How We Sabotage Ourselves -- Self-Sabotage
The Petty Reasons We Use to Destroy Serious Work
Let me be blunt. I have personally watched:
- Projects for youth development collapse because two adults cannot put their egos aside.
- Boards fall apart because someone “couldn’t stand” another member.
- Good initiatives were blocked because the government color was red instead of green, or yellow instead of blue.
These are not “small cultural quirks.” They are:
Structural weaknesses in our social behavior that outsiders can – and do – exploit.
From an anthropological lens, what I see is:
- High value is placed on personal loyalty and party identity,
- Low tolerance for difference and disagreement,
- Punishing those who cross tribal lines, even when they are working for the common good.
And while we are busy fighting each other:
- Ports are leased,
- Critical infrastructure is mortgaged,
- Policies are influenced by those who are united in money and strategy.
If you think this is a theory, look at a concrete example.
Jamaica – a proud Caribbean nation – needed funds to develop key infrastructure. They turned to external lenders and developers, including Chinese state-linked firms, for help.
On the surface: investment, jobs, progress. Underneath: long-term control over:
- critical infrastructure,
- port access,
- and strategic assets.
One headline told the story clearly enough: “Chinese firm now controls Jamaica’s port.”
This is not about “hating China” or any other power. This is about:
Recognizing that when you are divided, indebted, and desperate, your “development partners” can quietly become your landlords.
The same pattern is emerging across the region: roads, ports, industrial parks, telecoms – built or financed by external giants, while we:
- argue about party colors,
- fight over small positions,
- and refuse to coordinate as a united Caribbean block.
Section 3: What Unity Looks Like in Practice
Unity Is Built in Meetings, Not Marches
Unity is not built on stage with flags. It is built:
- In board meetings where you choose collaboration over ego,
- In community projects where party colors stay at the door,
- In regional conversations where islands speak as one family, not as jealous cousins.
Here are some simple, concrete behaviors we must normalize:
1. Put the Project Above the Personality
You don’t have to like everyone on the team. You do have to respect the goal.
- Disagree in private,
- Debate with facts,
- But don’t sabotage a good initiative because your ego is bruised.
2. Leave Party Flags at the Door
In spaces dealing with:
- education,
- health,
- infrastructure,
- youth and social policy,
we must agree on one rule:
The only “party” in the room is the Caribbean people.
3. Practice Open, Honest Communication
Unity does not mean silence. It means:
- raising concerns clearly,
- listening fully,
- and deciding on the basis of evidence, not gossip.
4. Create Shared Vision, Not Just Shared Anger
It’s easy to unite in complaint. It is harder – and more necessary – to unite around a vision:
- What kind of Caribbean do we want in 20–30 years?
- Who should own our ports, our land, our telecoms?
- What kind of schools and justice systems do we want for our children?
Section 4: The Role of Service
From “What Do I Get?” to “What Can I Protect and Build?”
At the core of unity is a simple shift:
From “What do I get out of this?” to “What can I help protect and build for those who come after me?”
Service is not a weakness. It is a strategic choice:
- to invest your time and skill in something bigger than your own name,
- to care about the hungry, the unemployed, the children in failing schools,
- to build institutions that can stand when you are gone.
When enough people in a society choose service over status, that society:
- becomes harder to buy,
- harder to corrupt,
- harder to divide.
Section 5: Call to Action
What You Can Do Today – On Your Island, In Your Circle
This is not a theoretical lecture. It is a warning and an invitation.
Here is what I ask you to do if this message resonates:
- Share this post with at least 5 people who care about the Caribbean.
- Start a small unity circle on your island: 5–10 people who agree to work above party lines on one concrete issue (youth, education, food security, debt awareness).
- Refuse to sabotage any serious project because of personal or political feelings.
- Educate yourself about who owns what in your country – ports, roads, utilities – and how those deals were made.
- Teach the younger ones that they are Caribbean first, party second.
Talk, teach, encourage, and motivate your fellow Caribbean people. If we do not develop this muscle of unity, we will be:
overwhelmed by massive commercial and economic powers, politely thanked for our hospitality, and quietly written out of the ownership of our own future.
Conclusion
A Final Word from One Caribbean Voice
I write this not as an outsider observing a case study, but as a Caribbean person who has:
- fought systems,
- seen projects rise and fall,
- felt both pride and deep frustration with our region.
We are rich in:
- culture,
- creativity,
- resilience,
- and human warmth.
But unless we unite in consciousness and in action, those riches will continue to be harvested by others.
The choice is simple, and it is now:
Stay small, divided and “nice” – and be managed. Or grow up as one Caribbean family – and be respected.
Which side of that choice will you live on?
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